Improvement in railroad switch-stands



A. W. CRAM.

Improvement in Railroad-Switch Stands.

Patented Aug. 13,1872.

' INVENTIIEH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO W. GBAM, OF LITGHFIELD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILRCAD SWITCH-STANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,487, dated August 13, 1872.

Specification describing a certain Improved Railway-Switch, invented by ALONZO W. CRAM, of Litchfield, in the county of Montgomery and State of Illinois.

The first part of my invention relates to a combination of devices for locking the handlever that operates the switch. The second part of my invention consists in the provision of a circular disk or cap which is made to cover and protect the quadrant in all positions of the switch. The third part of my invention relates to the manner of operating and securing the connecting-rod between the switchstand and the rail; and consists in the combination, with the crank of the turn-shaft, of a drop'bolt, which also constitutes the pivot-pin of the rod and crank, the end of said pivotbolt dropping into holes in a plate (on which the switch-rod rests) when the switch is in any of its proper positions.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switchstand. Fig. 2 is a plan, in which the top of the lock is removed, and the lock-bolt shown in its retracted position. Fig. 3 is a plan similar to Fig. 2, except that the bolt is shown projected over the hand-leverto hold it down. Fig. 4 is a side view of the crank and pivot drop-bolt.

A is the main signal; B, the turning-staff to which is secured a horizontal disk, 0. To the diskO is attached the lock of which D is the case. The lock has abolt, E, operated by the spring S attached to the side of the lock-case D, which takes into or over the lever F, (as shown in Fig. 3,) when the lever has descended into the deeper notch H of the quadrant G, in which case the switch-rails are in connection with the rails of the main track. When the hand-lever F is out of the notch H the bolt E rests against the side of said lever and is held back by it. When in the shallower notches h the lever does not descend low enough to allow the lock to pass over it, (or into a lock-cavity in it,) and in this (the backward) position of the bolt the key K cannot be taken'out, but is retained in the lock by a projection, e, which prevents the key from turning to agree with the key-hole, so that the key must remain in the lock in all positions of the switch, except that one in which the main track is unbroken and the switch locked in that position. The irremovability of the key when the switch is in any but a safe condition will serveas a reminder to the switch-tender and prevent accidents. The hand-lever F is hinged to the cap 0 so as to admit of oscillation in a vertical plane, and has pivoted to it the vertical rod I, whose lower end i constitutes both the pin of the crank L and the pivot and bolt of the switchrod M connecting the crank and switchrails. The end ,2 is preferably of conical (or tapering) form, as shown, so that it will move freely in the sockets of the crank and rod when raised, but will make a perfectly rigid look when forced downward into the bar N, on which the rod M rests. The sockets of the crank and rod are made of suitable form to the end i. Jointed to the hand-lever at 0 is a rod, 0, which is attached to a vertically-sliding cap, P, enveloping, when the lever F is in its lowest position, a danger signal, R, painted red, or having a red light, so that when the lever is raised (and the switch consequently unlocked) the danger-signal will be exhibited. By the use of my drop-bolt I i the probability of dangerous lost-motion in joints between the switch-rail and locking-lever is reduced to a minimum, as there is but one joint between the switchrails and the locking device i N.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. The quadrant G having notches H h varying in depth, in combination with the handlever F, bolt E, and spring S, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the turn-staff B, quadrant G, and protecting disk or cap 0, as set forth.

3. The combination of the hand-lever F, drop-rod I, crank L, rod M, and bar N, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

ALONZO W. ORAM.

Witnesses SAML. KNIGHT, HENRY G. ISAAGS. 

